With the start of the NBA regular season nearly two months away, the league revealed the schedule for its first in-season tournament on Tuesday, which includes several matchups in the group stages featuring last year's playoff teams.
The new tournament, which will feature all 30 teams playing to win the NBA Cup, will begin on Nov. 3 when the Indiana Pacers host the Cleveland Cavaliers. ESPN will nationally broadcast two games on the tournament's opening day: the New York Knicks at the Milwaukee Bucks and the Dallas Mavericks at the Denver Nuggets.
Before the full NBA regular-season schedule is released Thursday, here is a breakdown of the NBA's in-season tournament, including groups and schedule:
What is the NBA in-season tournament?
The in-season tournament begins on Nov. 3 and ends with the championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 9.
All teams were placed in five-team pods last month and will play each team in its group once − two home games and two road games. All 60 group stage games will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays in November, with the exception of Election Day on Nov. 7.
A unique twist is that all teams won't start playing at the same time or on the same days. For example, the Brooklyn Nets will have played three games by the time the Toronto Raptors make their debut on Nov. 17.
With the in-season tournament, teams only have 80 scheduled games. The 22 teams that don't make the quarterfinals will play games on Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 to fulfill their schedule, while eight teams that advance to the knockout round will have their elimination games be part of the 82-game schedule. The losing quarterfinal teams will play against each other on Dec. 8 to meet the 82 games.
2023 NBA in-season tournament groups
West Group A: Memphis Grizzlies; Phoenix Suns; Los Angeles Lakers; Utah Jazz; Portland Trail Blazers
East Group A: Philadelphia 76ers; Cleveland Cavaliers; Atlanta Hawks; Indiana Pacers; Detroit Pistons
West Group B: Denver Nuggets; Los Angeles Clippers; New Orleans Pelicans; Dallas Mavericks; Houston Rockets
East Group B: Milwaukee Bucks; New York Knicks; Miami Heat; Washington Wizards; Charlotte Hornets
West Group C: Sacramento Kings; Golden State Warriors; Minnesota Timberwolves; Oklahoma City Thunder; San Antonio Spurs
East Group C: Boston Celtics; Brooklyn Nets; Toronto Raptors; Chicago Bulls; Orlando Magic
